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BREAKING NEWS: IS THE PLAIN DEALER IN BED WITH THE RICH AND POWERFUL IN CLEVELAND TO PROMOTE THE SIN TAX FOR THE ARTS?Submitted by Satinder P S Puri on Sat, 07/11/2015 - 20:46.
BREAKING NEWS:
IS THE PLAIN DEALER, OHIO’S LARGEST NEWSPAPER, IN BED WITH THE RICH AND POWERFUL, IN CLEVELAND, TO PROMOTE THE SIN TAX FOR THE ARTS IN THE COMING ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 3, 2015?
   AND WHAT HAS ROLDO BARTIMOLE, EMINENT INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER, HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE PLAIN DEALER IN PROMOTING THE SIN TAX: “The PD (Plain Dealer) is a bought propaganda machine.”
 Steven Litt (seated, front row), Art & Architectural critic of The Plain Dealer reported on the supporters of the Sin Tax for the Arts who spoke at the June 23, 2015 Cuyahoga County Council meeting – but made no mention of Satinder P. S. Puri – a Cleveland activist (shown speaking) who has been consistently opposing the Sin Tax for the Arts, (VOTE NO ON SIN TAX ON NOV. 3, 2015 campaign) and has spoken at six Council meetings – all available on YouTube, see Appendix for linls.
 Community Activist, Satinder P. S. Puri, who has spoken at six Cuyahoga County Council meetings opposing the 2015 Sin Tax, (VOTE NO ON SIN TAX ON NOV. 3, 2015 campaign) addressing the Council on June 23, 2015 – see Appendix for full text of comments.
Steven Litt, Art and Architecture critic of The Plain Dealer (seated, front row), in his article (see Appendix), never reported a word said by the activist (see Appendix) at the subject meeting but covered all the supporters of the Sin Tax who included for the most part -- the rich and powerful in Cleveland, Ohio:
Joe Roman (President and CEO of Greater Cleveland Partnership),
Paul Dolan (Owner and CEO of Cleveland Indians),
Kevin Kelley (President of Cleveland City Council), and
Natalie Ronayne (Executive Vice President of the Cleveland Botanical Garden).
 ONE OPPONENT (VOTE NO ON SIN TAX ON NOV. 3, 2015 campaign) AND FIVE SUPPORTERS AT THE JUNE 23, 2015 MEETING:
In his article (see Appendix), Steven Litt, Art and Architecture critic of The Plain Dealer, never reported a word (see Appendix) said by Cleveland activist, Satinder P. S. Puri, an ardent opponent of the Sin Tax, at the June 23, 2015 Cuyahoga County Council meeting -- but nevertheless covered the five supporters of the Sin Tax who for the most part included the rich and powerful in Cleveland, Ohio.
Clockwise, Left to Right:
Opponent: Activist Satinder P. S. Puri (VOTE NO ON SIN TAX ON NOV. 3, 2015 campaign), and
Five Supporters:
Artist Gwendolyn Garth,
Joe Roman (President and CEO of Greater Cleveland Partnership),
Paul Dolan (Owner and CEO of Cleveland Indians),
Kevin Kelley (President of Cleveland City Council), and
Natalie Ronayne (Executive Vice President of the Cleveland Botanical Garden).
 SIX APPEARANCES BEFORE CUYAHOGA COUNTY COUNCIL WITH A CONSISTENT MESSAGE: VOTE NO ON SIN TAX ON NOV. 3, 2015:
Community Activist, Satinder P. S. Puri, who has spoken at six Cuyahoga County Council meetings opposing the 2015 Sin Tax, stated in all meetings:
“I will actively oppose the 2015 Sin Tax with my VOTE NO ON SIN TAX signs.
Note: The six appearances before the Cuyahoga County Council were on : June 23, June 9, May 26, May 12, April 28, and April 12, 2015.
All the Cuyahoga Couny Council meetings are video taped and are available on their website and also on YouTube.
 ONE QUESTION FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS:
At the June 23, 2015 meeting, Community Activist, Satinder P. S. Puri who has spoken at six Cuyahoga County Council meetings opposing the 2015 Sin Tax, (VOTE NO ON SIN TAX ON NOV. 3, 2015:
Campaign) stated (see Appendix for full text):
“Mr. President, I have one question for our Council members pertaining to the issue of Social Justice. I will appreciate a response during your discussion on the subject Resolution:
“Is it fair that in Cuyahoga County only cigarette smokers should be taxed to support Arts and Culture – an activity that all of us enjoy and benefit from? “
Two members responded: Councilmen Germana and Schron said that the Sin Tax was not perfect but did not address the issue of fairness as stated in the question.
Four other members spoke: President Brady and Council members: Conwell, Simon, and Miller but did not respond to the question.
Four members did not speak: Greenspan, Brown, Gallagher and Hairston.
Eleventh member was absent: Vice President Jones.
UNANIMOUS VOTE: All ten members present voted YES.
The entire discussion lasted less than 10 minutes.
AND STEVEN LITT, THE PLAIN DEALER REPORTER, NEVER REPORTED ON THE QUESTION AND THE RESPONSES, NOR ANYTHING SAID BY ACTIVIST, SATINDER P. S. PURI.See Appendix for text of comments by Satinder P. S. Puri and Mr. Litt’s article.
 POST BY STEVEN LITT, THE PLAIN DEALER REPORTER, ON CLEVELAND.COM ON TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2015
Title: “County Council votes to put cigarette tax issue on November ballot:
Cuyahoga Arts Tax Renewal”
In his article on cleveland.com, Mr. Litt never reported a word said by Cleveland activist, Satinder P. S. Puri, an ardent opponent of the Sin Tax (VOTE NO ON SIN TAX ON NOV. 3, 2015 campaign) at the June 23, 2015 Cuyahoga County Council meeting -- but nevertheless covered the supporters of the Sin Tax Tax who for the most part included the rich and powerful in Cleveland, Ohio.
The article contains a photograph of Joe Roman, president and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, who spoke in favor of a November vote on renewing Cuyahoga County's cigarette tax for the arts at Tuesday's County Council meeting.
For text of article, see Appendix.
 ARTICLE BY STEVEN LITT, THE PLAIN DEALER REPORTER IN
THE WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2015, ISSUE
Title: “Cigarette arts tax renewal is sought”
In his article in The Plain Dealer, Mr. Litt never reported a word said by Cleveland activist, Satinder P. S. Puri, an ardent opponent of the Sin Tax (VOTE NO ON SIN TAX ON NOV. 3, 2015 campaign) at the June 23, 2015 Cuyahoga County Council meeting -- but nevertheless covered the supporters of the Sin Tax who for the most part included the rich and powerful in Cleveland, Ohio.
Note: There were no photographs in the printed article.
For text of article, see Appendix.
 AND WHAT HAS ROLDO BARTIMOLE, EMINENT INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER, HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE PLAIN DEALER IN PROMOTING THE SIN TAX:
“The proponents of the tax, according to Steve Litt, unpaid PR person for these interests, have already raised half of $1.6 million they will use to convince YOU of the need to extend the cigarette tax for 10 more years. Litt has become a propagandist posing as journalist. He doesn’t look further than where the elite point.”
“The PD (Plain Dealer) is a bought propaganda machine.”(Ref. Old Cleveland Wealth can Fund the Arts, May 28, 2015)
 Community Activist, Satinder P. S. Puri, who has spoken at six Cuyahoga County Council meetings opposing the 2015 Sin Tax, stated in all meetings:
“I will actively oppose the 2015 Sin Tax with my VOTE NO ON SIN TAX signs.”
 Community Activist, Satinder P. S. Puri, an army of One, opposing the 2015 Sin Tax with his demonstrations i.f.o. the Cleveland Museum for the Arts after the Annual Parade the Circle on Saturday, June 13, 2015.
 OPPONENTS OF THE SIN TAX PHOTOGRAPHED AFTER THE ANNUAL PARADE THE CIRCLE, ART EXTRAVAGANZA, ON
SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 2015
Steven Litt, Art and Architecture critic of The Plain Dealer, (and according to Roldo Bartimole, an unpaid PR person for the proponents of the Sin Tax), in his article of June 23, 2015 posted on cleveland.com and printed in the The Plain Dealer the next day, had this to say about the opposition to the 2015 Sin Tax:
“No formal opposition to the levy has yet emerged.”
 AND WHAT HAS ROLDO BARTIMOLE, EMINENT INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER, HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE SIN TAX WHICH IS COMING UP FOR A VOTE ON NOVEMBER 3, 2015:
“It’s time for a new tax. Art patrons should be ashamed of themselves for backing a cruel, regressive tax.” (Ref. Tax Targets Poor, Working Class, May 7, 2015).“This is a class issue. And the upper elite are putting on a classless act.
They’re going after the little guy again.”
(Ref. Old Cleveland Wealth can fund the Arts, May 28, 2015)
 HOW CORRUPT IS CLEVELAND, OHIO?
VERY CORRUPT!
–
WHERE THE RICH AND POWERFUL AND THE MEDIA
(THE PLAIN DEALER & TV STATIONS)
WORK HAND IN HAND TO SCREW THE REST OF US!
LOVE THE ARTS: Music, Painting, Drama, Drawing, Dance, Sculpture, Opera, etc.
WE SHOULD ALL PAY TAXES TO FUND THE ARTS, NOT JUST TAX CITIZENS WHO SMOKE!
VOTE NO ON SIN TAX ON NOV. 3, 2015
    PHOTOGRAPHS FROM VOTE NO ON SIN TAX ON NOV. 3, 2015 DEMONSTRATIONS IN FULL SWING SLL OVER CLEVELAND:
    NOTE: I have a subscription to The Plain Dealer, enjoy reading it, and miss it on the days it is not delivered.
APPENDIX:
1. LIST OF SIX CUYAHOGA COUNTY COUNCIL MEETINGS, ALL AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE, ATTENDED BY ACTIVIST SATINDER P. S. PURI:
All Cuyahoga County Council Meetings are videotaped and available on YouTube.
The comments were made in the Public Sessions.
Here are the dates and names of the Committees where I spoke, and the approximate time for start of my videotaped comments, and the link to the YouTube Video:
June 23: Cuyahoga County Council, 3.00 min.
https://youtu.be/5HoUM_GKxNI
June 9: Cuyahoga County Council, 2.50 min.
https://youtu.be/Tf_AYWjLpRM
May 26: Cuyahoga County, Committee of the Whole Meeting, 15.0 min.
https://youtu.be/MvM92yh7Wno
May 12: Cuyahoga County, Committee of the Whole Meeting, 1.50 min.
https://youtu.be/1TMTsI328IY
April 28: Cuyahoga County Council, 5.40 min.
https://youtu.be/g9BMXUBW-zY
April 12, 2015: Cuyahoga County Council, 45.00 min.
https://youtu.be/GQjX0QNIc28
2. TEXT OF COMMENTS MADE BY ACTIVIST SATINDER P. S. PURI AT THE JUNE 23, 2015, CUYAHOGA COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING & WHICH WERE NOT REPORTED BY STEVEN LITT -- THE PLAIN DEALER REPORTER WHO WROTE A REPORT ON BOTH CLEVELAND.COM AND ALSO FOR THE PLAIN DEALER.
Good Evening!
County Executive Budish, Council President, Vice-President, & Council Members!
I oppose your resolution for renewing the Sin Tax on cigarettes to pay for Arts and Culture.
This is my 6th opportunity to comment on: FAIR FUNDING FOR THE ARTS IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY!
While I don’t smoke, I love the arts and the role they play in enriching our lives on a daily basis.
We need fair funding for the arts where we all pay.
This is a social justice issue.
County leaders in 2015 continue to champion what Jimmy Dimora championed in 2006 – supporting the arts on the backs of cigarette smokers demonstrating an absence of enlightened leadership.
At the meetings of May 12 and May 26– a parade of speakers urged continuation of the sin tax because the Arts benefit the community.
That the Arts benefit our community is indisputable.
What is also indisputable is that this benefit results from direct exploitation of the weak and powerless.
While an estimated 80,000 Clevelanders enjoyed the 2015 Parade in the Circle held in University Circle -- a few days ago --there was no direct acknowledgement that the event was partially supported by the cigarette smokers of Cuyahoga County.
And what does Roldo Bartimole – Cleveland’s conscience – have to say about the Sin Tax: “This is a class issue. And the upper elite are putting on a classless act. They’re going after the little guy again.”
I will actively oppose the 2015 Sin Tax with my VOTE NO ON SIN TAX signs.
Love the Arts but not the use of regressive taxes to support them.
We should stop exploiting the weak and powerless in our society.
IT’S A SIN CUYAHOGA, TO FUND THE ARTS JUST ON THE BACKS OF SMOKERS!
WE NEED FAIR FUNDING FOR THE ARTS!
TAX ALL OR TAX NONE!
THE ENDS SHOULD NEVER JUSTIFY THE MEANS!
NEVER!
Mr. President, I have one question for our council members pertaining to the issue of social justice.
I will appreciate a response during your discussion on the subject Resolution:
Is it fair that in Cuyahoga County only cigarette smokers should be taxed to support Arts and Culture – an activity that all of us enjoy and benefit from?
I am submitting a document for the record.
Thank you.
3. TEXT OF POST BY STEVEN LITT, ART & ARCHITECTURAL CRITIC OF THE PLAIN DEALER, ON CLEVELAND.COM RE. THE JUNE 23, 2015, CUYAHOGA COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING. NOTE: MR. LITT DID NOT MENTION A WORD SAID BY SATINDER P. S. PURI, CLEVELAND ACTIVIST, AND THE LONE OPPONENT AT THE COUNCIL MEETINGS ON THE 2015 SIN TAX FOR THE ARTS:
County Council votes to put cigarette tax issue on November ballot: Cuyahoga Arts Tax Renewal
Steven Litt, The Plain Dealer By Steven Litt, The Plain Dealer
on June 23, 2015 at 6:30 PM, updated June 24, 2015 at 7:45 AM
CLEVELAND, Ohio - It's up to Cuyahoga County voters now. County Council voted 10-0 Tuesday to place an issue on the November ballot on whether to renew the 10-year, 30-cents-a-pack tax on cigarettes for a second decade.
"I think this is probably the most important vote that this council has taken, certainly one of the more important votes this council has taken this year," Council President Dan Brady said just before the vote.
Council members expressed strong support for the resolution, and for a positive outcome for the levy in the fall. Eight members sponsored the resolution, leaving no doubt about the outcome of the vote. Pernel Jones Jr., of District 8 was the only one of 11 members not present.
Several of the members who spoke before Tuesday's expressed concern that revenues from the levy are expected to fall over the next 10 years, cutting the capacity of the excise to provide support at current levels. Others criticized the idea of taxing cigarettes.
"It's definitely a no-brainer," said District 4 Councilman Charles Germana before his vote in favor of placing the issue on the fall ballot.
"Arts and culture bring quality of life to all our residents," he said. "But there's a part of me that's sad because this isn't perfect. I would be the first one to support repealing this to provide a better way of taxing."
District 6 Councilman Jack Schron said: "This is not a perfect solution," and expressed concern that funding is predicted to drop 50 percent over the next decade, not counting inflation.
Approved by voters in 2006, the cigarette tax has provided $125 million for more than 300 arts organizations countywide, making the county a national leader in local public funding of the arts.
Supporters who spoke in favor of renewing the levy at Tuesday's meeting included Joe Roman, president and CEO of the Greater
Cleveland Partnership, the city's chamber of commerce.
"Cleveland has an incredible amount of momentum right now - we all know that – thanks in no small part to the county's vibrant arts and cultural community."
Roman added: "One of the top reasons companies cite for locating and expanding in this region is the opportunity arts and culture provide."
In addition to Roman, other supporters who addressed Council included Natalie Ronayne, executive vice president of the Cleveland Botanical Garden, Indians owner and CEO Paul Dolan, and Kevin Kelley, president of Cleveland City Council.
Artist Gwendolyn Garth said she supported renewal of the levy, but said more of the $13 million to $15 million distributed every year should go to small organizations, rather than large, well-established ones.
"We have not gotten our fair share so I would like to be able to collaborate and somehow have more easy on-ramps for the smaller organizations," she said.
Speaking after the meeting, Karen Gahl-Mills, executive director of Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, the political subdivision that distributes the tax revenues through competitive grants, said she was already working with Garth on broadening the pool of smaller organizations that apply for funding.
No formal opposition to the levy has yet emerged. The Arts and Culture Action Committee, which led the pro-levy campaign in 2006, has reactivated and is seeking $1.6 million to promote the renewal.
Jeff Rusnak of R Strategy Group, which is directing the campaign, said it has raised half of its goal in pledges and roughly a third in cash.
The five-member board of Cuyahoga Arts and Culture opted to seek a renewal of the tax this year, although the tax doesn't expire until midnight on Jan. 21, 2017.
Rusnak said that other county issues may be on the ballots in 2016.
"We wanted to make sure, in case anything happened and for some reason it did not pass, we would have another opportunity to go back," Rusnak said in a telephone interview before Tuesday's meeting.
"The way the law is written, if it were to expire, we could not go back for a renewal."
After the meeting, supporters said they were thrilled by the County Council's vote.
"It really does renew the county's commitment to being a leader in the support of arts and culture in this community and I think it's a model of national importance," said Grafton Nunes, president of the Cleveland Institute of Art. "I think we're the envy of communities all over the country with the demonstration of commitment to the arts. Its not just words, its action and it's significant action. I'm in awe."
Reporter Karen Farkas of the Northeast Ohio Media Group contributed to this report.
4. TEXT OF ARTICLE BY STEVEN LITT, ART & ARCHITECTURAL CRITIC OF THE PLAIN DEALER IN THE PRINTED EDITION OF WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2015. MR. LITT DID NOT MENTION A WORD SAID BY SATINDER P. S. PURI, CLEVELAND ACTIVIST, AND THE LONE OPPONENT AT THE COUNCIL MEETINGS ON THE 2015 SIN TAX FOR THE ARTS:
Title: Cigarette arts tax renewal is sought
Text: Same as the post on cleveland.com
5. TEXT OF DOCUMENT SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD TO THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY COUNCIL BY ACTIVIST SATINDER P. S. PURI AT THE JUNE 23, 2015, COUNCIL MEETING.
Note: Similar documents were submitted for the record at each of the previous five meetings.
Comments made at the Cuyahoga County Council Meeting
June 23, 2015
Cuyahoga County Administrative Headquarters, Cleveland, Ohio
SUBJECT: FAIR FUNDING FOR THE ARTS IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY
Good Evening!
County Executive Budish, Council President, Vice-President, & Council Members!
My name is Satinder Puri.
I am a community activist, a volunteer teacher, a retired Structural Engineer, and a resident of Cleveland’s West Side.
I oppose your resolution (2015-0076) for renewing the Sin Tax on cigarettes to pay for Arts and Culture in Cuyahoga County.
This is my 6th opportunity to comment on: FAIR FUNDING FOR THE ARTS IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY!
While I don’t smoke, I love the arts and the role they play in enriching our lives on a daily basis.
As a volunteer teacher, for the past 10-years, at a CMSD school -- I have integrated the arts in the teaching of science, math, and engineering.
Sin Taxes are regressive taxes that take a higher percentage of income from our poorest and most vulnerable citizens.
We need fair funding for the arts where we all pay.
Cigarette smokers suffer immensely in later life for their habit.
I find the practice of taxing cigarette smokers to support the arts totally repugnant and aesthetically insensitive.
County leaders in 2015 continue to champion what Jimmy Dimora championed in 2006 – supporting the arts on the backs of cigarette smokers demonstrating an absence of enlightened leadership.
Artists are known for portraying social injustice in their works.
At the meetings of May 12 and May 26, 2015 meetings – a parade of speakers urged continuation of the sin tax because the Arts benefit the community.
That the Arts benefit our community is indisputable.
What is also indisputable is that this benefit results from direct exploitation of the weak and powerless.
While an estimated 80,000 Clevelanders enjoyed the 2015 Parade in the Circle held in University Circle -- a few days ago --there was no direct acknowledgement that the event was partially supported by the cigarette smokers of Cuyahoga County.
And what does Roldo Bartimole – Cleveland’s conscience – have to say about the Sin Tax: “This is a class issue. And the upper elite are putting on a classless act. They’re going after the little guy again.”
Yet no one at the two meetings (May 12 and 26) – I repeat no one -- questioned whether this exploitation of the weak and powerless to fund a noble activity like the Arts was the right thing to do.
It is very easy to talk about and portray social injustice in works of art – but not so easy to fight social injustice if one is benefiting from the exploitation with financial grants.
The public continues to be barraged with sanitized acknowledgements – for example “A Performance on Brahms, Beethoven, and Mozart” brought to you by Cuyahoga Arts and Culture and not by the Cigarette Smokers of Cuyahoga County.
I will actively oppose the 2015 Sin Tax with my VOTE NO ON SIN TAX signs – fighting for the little guy -- while the proponents will wage an expensive campaign supported by the Arts establishment.
Love the Arts but not the use of regressive taxes to support them.
We should stop exploiting the weak and powerless in our society.
IT’S A SIN CUYAHOGA, TO FUND THE ARTS JUST ON THE BACKS OF SMOKERS!
WE NEED FAIR FUNDING FOR THE ARTS!
TAX ALL OR TAX NONE!
THE ENDS SHOULD NEVER JUSTIFY THE MEANS! NEVER!
VOTE NO SIN TAX IN 2015!
Mr. President, I have one question for our council members pertaining to the issue of social justice.
I will appreciate a response during your discussion on the subject Resolution:
Is it fair that in Cuyahoga County only cigarette smokers should be taxed to support Arts and Culture – an activity that all of us enjoy and benefit from?
I am submitting a document for the record.
Thank you.
Satinder P. S. Puri
13217 Cooley Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio: 44111
Retd. Structural Engineer,
Community Volunteer at preK-8 Riverside School
Facebook Group: ABC: All About Cleveland, Ohio
Blog at REALNEO e-mail: spspuri9 [at] sbcglobal [dot] net
REFERENCES
*Previous documents submitted to Cuyahoga County Council for the record on:
June 9, 2015, May 26, 2015, May 12, 2015,April 28, 2015, and April 14, 2015
*CLEVELAND’S 26TH ANNUAL PARADE THE CIRCLE -- AN ART EXTRAVANGANZA, JUNE 13 2015, CLEVELAND, OHIO! (Blog at REALNEO)
*CLEVELAND’S 25TH ANNUAL PARADE THE CIRCLE -- AN ART EXTRAVANGANZA, JUNE 14 2014, CLEVELAND, OHIO! (Blog at REALNEO)
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